The St. Louis Cardinals’ pitching staff has managed to stay competitive this season despite dealing with injuries to several key pitchers.
One of the more challenging setbacks was losing left-handed pitcher Steven Matz for most of the season due to a lower back strain. Thankfully, he made his return on Sunday and could help strengthen the rotation as the 2024 season comes to a close.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for another injured Cardinals pitcher, who’s been struggling to reach his usual performance level since starting his rehab assignment.
“Cardinals manager Oli Marmol mentioned that the team is still determining the next steps for right-handed pitcher Lance Lynn, who gave up 7 hits, 5 earned runs, and 2 walks in 3.2 innings during a rehab start with Triple-A Memphis on Sunday,” MLB.com’s John Denton reported Monday afternoon. “The decision doesn’t need to be made until next week. With Steven Matz back, St. Louis is currently using a six-man rotation.”
Lynn has been sidelined with right knee inflammation since late July, and his recovery has taken longer than anticipated.
With only 24 games left in the season, Lynn has limited time to make a return. If he can’t perform effectively at the Triple-A level, it might not be wise to bring him back, especially with the Cardinals already employing six starting pitchers.
At 37, Lynn has a club option for 2025 with a $1 million buyout, making it interesting to see if the Cardinals will re-sign him in the offseason. While he could serve as a solid back-end option, the team may consider replacing him with a younger, healthier pitcher instead.
